A41644:34
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is showed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is shewed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
PROPOSITION I.
The design of God in delivering a people from eminent dangers of ruin, is to oblige them to forsake all sinful and wicked practices. The intent of delivering mercies, is to cause us to repent of our destroying iniquities. The main end of Gods exercising goodness towards us, is only to effect some goodness in us. The design of special mercies, is to make us a special people. The Almighty God delights not to reduce a people from sinful courses, by laying them under such heavy judgments as may render them incapable ⟨p. 11⟩of committing those sins, which otherwise their wills incline them to; but the way of his pleasure is to confer such mercies upon them, as may sweetly conquer their stubborn hearts, and gain their averse minds to himself. Hence when the sin and folly of an obstinate people hath reduced them to inextricable straits, the eternal God doth not suffer his destroying wrath to break forth against them, saying, I see them helpless and past recovery, now therefore will I ease me of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies; but compassion being kindled in his merciful breast, Now says the Lord I will lend a helping hand, and give them that experience, and those evidences of my goodness, that shall for ever oblige them to me, and win them from proceeding in ways of rebellion against me. Thus all our deliverances lay us under perpetual obligations to devote our selves to the blessed work and service of our delivering God.
The design of God in delivering a people from eminent dangers of ruine, is to oblige them to forsake all sinful and wicked practices. The intent of delivering mercies, is to cause us to repent of our destroying iniquities. The main end of Gods exercising goodness towards us, is onely to effect some goodness in us. The design of special mercies, is to make us a special people. The Almighty God delights not to reduce a people from sinful courses, by laying them under such heavy judgments as may render them incapable